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Winter of the World
Winter of the World: Book Two of the Century Trilogy | Ken Follett
THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERPicking up where Fall of Giants, the first novel in the extraordinary Century Trilogy, left off, Winter of the World follows its five interrelated familiesAmerican, German, Russian, English, and Welshthrough a time of enormous social, political, and economic turmoil, beginning with the rise of the Third Reich, through the great dramas of World War II, and into the beginning of the long Cold War.Carla von Ulrich, born of German and English parents, finds her life engulfed by the Nazi tide until daring to commit a deed of great courage and heartbreak....American brothers Woody and Chuck Dewar, each with a secret, take separate paths to momentous events, one in Washington, the other in the bloody jungles of the Pacific....English student Lloyd Williams discovers in the crucible of the Spanish Civil War that he must fight Communism just as hard as Fascism....Daisy Peshkov, a driven social climber, cares only for popularity and the fast set until war transforms her life, while her cousin Volodya carves out a position in Soviet intelligence that will affect not only this war but also the war to come.From the Paperback edition.
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TheSpineView
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Here are the books I scored at the used bookstore. Most excited about the two Ken Follett books.
❤️📖❤️📚❤️

PirateJenny New Follett is out today! 6mo
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wanderinglynn Great score! I loved Britt-Marie. 6mo
78 likes6 comments
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SanjanaGhosh
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Pickpick

27 days. 1006 pages. Longest book of the year done and dusted!

This book had everything. Drama. History. Politics. Romance. Family. 💖

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wildwoodreads
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My tbr shelf is getting overwhelming. I think it‘s time to do some organizing. I‘m really bad to only buy certain genres. Then I will eventually burn myself out on that genre and the books I bought will go unread.
Today I rounded up all of my historical fiction.
Have you read any of these? Which of these should I prioritize?

https://wildwoodreads.com/2023/04/26/historical-fiction-on-my-tbr/

TheSpineView Ken Follett love his books 11mo
marleed I liked Hester quite a bit, but the London Seance Society was a dud for me - I thought the premise deserved to be darker and creepier than it was. 11mo
StaceGhost I second the Hester rec! Very atmospheric and lovely 11mo
wildwoodreads @TheSpineView I definitely need to finish that series! 11mo
wildwoodreads @marleed @StaceGhost I‘m definitely giving Hester a try soon. ☺️ 11mo
62 likes5 comments
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deliasson
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Bailedbailed

I really enjoyed the first book in this trilogy but this one just seemed to never end! It also doesn‘t really go into depth about the real horrors of living in Nazi Germany; it touches on it but very tamely. It makes the story unbelievable. And the Jewish Dr. Rothmann: in 1943 there‘s no way that he and his family would still be allowed to live in Berlin. They would most assuredly have been taken to camp by that time.

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wildwoodreads
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Someone is interrupting my reading time. 😂😂😂

https://readinginthewildwood.com/2020/08/28/lets-do-a-reading-update-book-chat/

ElizaMarie Wow totally attention seeking there! And such a gorgeous kitty. That coloring.. Wow 4y
ShananigansReads Maybe your reading is interrupting his lovin time 😹😹😹 4y
wildwoodreads @Bookjunkie57 That is fair. It‘s his world. I‘m just in it. 😂😂😂 4y
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wildwoodreads @ElizaMarie Thank you! 💕💕💕💕 4y
ShananigansReads @megzlynn 😂😂😂 4y
PSreads73 Adorable. Looks a lot like my moms cat Silky. Silky has a little more white especially around her mouth. 4y
Gissy 😻❤️❤️❤️ 4y
Lsmoore43 What a beautiful cat. It sure looks relaxed. So adorable. :) 4y
Lsmoore43 What a beautiful cat. It sure looks relaxed. So adorable. :) 4y
JanuarieTimewalker13 That‘s a cute fur baby!!!🐾❤️ 4y
Tera66 Oh my gosh, those eyes! 4y
bookaholic1 Beautiful❤❤ 4y
sharread What a cutie 😻 4y
101 likes13 comments
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wildwoodreads
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I had to share my love of Litsy on my #blog tonight. This really is the greatest bookish community ever! Check it out and give it some love! 💕💕💕

https://readinginthewildwood.com/2020/08/17/my-favorite-bookish-apps/

Pogue You should check out THeStorygraph it is still in beta and I love it more than goodreads. It was created by a woman and it is clean, and easy to use. 4y
wildwoodreads @Pogue That sounds awesome! I will check it out. 4y
65 likes2 comments
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wildwoodreads
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I‘ve tried reading three different books today. This series keeps drawing me back in. On a side note, I‘m going to need a wrist brace. This book is chunky.

Airykah13 I‘m listening to Fall of Giants, it‘s good so far! 4y
wildwoodreads @Airykah13 I hope you enjoy the rest of it! It‘s a wild ride! 4y
MoonWitch94 Omg SO big!! My wrists hurt too lol 4y
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wildwoodreads @MoonWitch94 Totally worth it though! I love it already! 4y
Shamzi It's extremely enjoyable!! 4y
TheRiehlDeal That's why with doorstoppers like these, it's a good idea to read the ebook or listen to the audiobook. Glad you like it so far! I have it on my OverDrive wishlist. 4y
perfectsinner I just finished this 🙂 taking a break before the third 4y
arattyreads Hahahahaha! I agree about the wrist brace! Just finished the first two in the series and even my thumbs are sore 3y
wildwoodreads @arattyreads I was the same way! 3y
71 likes9 comments
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perfectsinner
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805/915

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perfectsinner
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Typo in Winter of the World by Ken Follett
Line says "Major Weiss, a thin man with black hair and spectacles, often spoke cynically about the government and military, but always in this enigmatic way, way so that nothing could be proved against him."

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perfectsinner

350/915
Hit part II, about 40% through, feeling a bit burned out on war stories. I think it'll be a bit after I finish this one before I start the third book.
Thinking I'll bring The World That We Knew by Alice Hoffman to the beach with me tomorrow, instead

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perfectsinner
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Dying to start this. I'm off 8/6-8/16... can totally read it by then, right?

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Shamzi
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Pickpick

🌟🌟🌟🌟
It was a roller coaster ride, a lot of highs and a few lows which is to be expected for a book of this size. It was filled with some interesting characters,very engaging stories.I have always loved the blend of historical events with fiction and this book delivers big time.As with the 1st one,this also had some strong female characters, which is great to read.
This book needs time & patience, and if u stick with it, it is very rewarding.

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Shamzi
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You read and read, and then you realise you still have about 200 pages to go!!!

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Yoricke_SouthAfrica
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Pickpick

This is the 2nd book in Ken Follet's Century Trilogy. This series is an absolutely magnificent series detailing the period from WWI until after WWI. Brilliant!!

Buechersuechtling This is the one I love the most in that series. I learnt so much from it. (Even though I‘m afraid that I already forgot almost everything of what I learnt.) 4y
Yoricke_SouthAfrica @Buechersuechtling I think this is one series that I will definitely re-read again in my life. 4y
40 likes2 comments
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Shamzi
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With work from home, not sure how much "work" will I be doing ???. Will be able to finish this mountain of a book!!!

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Shamzi
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Reading these two simultaneously.
Fractured is what I call my "commute book" as I read it going back and forth from office and during breaks ??
Winter of the world is the home book because it is a really big book and difficult to carry around ??

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Shamzi
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Part One was difficult to get through, it was slow, a lot of character introduction and not much action. It took a while to reach here.
Part Two is where it really takes off, World War II, dark times, and events are flowing at a faster rate.
Same thing happened with Fall of Giants, you stick with the characters, they start to grow on you, you start rooting for them and get invested in there journey!!!

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Yoricke_SouthAfrica
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The second book in Ken Follet's Century Trilogy. Few writes about the past like this author. History truly comes alive.

41 likes1 stack add
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MoonWitch94
Pickpick

This novel was TOUGH. Not because the epic history lesson from Follett isn‘t enjoyable, well written, or factual; but simply because this part of history (1930s to 1949) is hard & emotionally draining to read about. The parallels to today‘s world are startling. Another 5 ⭐️ epic from Follett.

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MoonWitch94
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Mr. Follett, we are 💯, without a shadow of a doubt, in a HUGE fight. With 200 pages left in this novel, enough is enough. No more devastation please!!!! #inafightwithanauthor #toosad

11 likes1 comment
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MoonWitch94
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1️⃣ Finish The Century Trilogy by Ken Follett (almost done tagged book, one more left); this is proving difficult because of the content. WW2 was vicious, and my favorite characters are suffering or dying. And it‘s eerie to see the similarities between The Third Reich & the current US Administration (I used to think those comparisons were dramatic, but not anymore). 2️⃣ Highlight quotes that resonate with me #Two4Tuesday

TheSpineView Thanks for playing! Happy Tuesday! 😊 4y
28 likes1 comment
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Shamzi
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Have been MIA for some time but have started this mamoth of a book!!!

TReads This one has stayed with me the longest after finishing the series a few years back. Definitely worth the investment, IMO. ☺️ The audiobook is also fantastic, if you need a break from the physical at some point. Hope it's a win for you! 4y
17 likes1 comment
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MoonWitch94
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Today‘s Mood ☕️📖😒 #OnlyLittensUnderstand #thisisselfcare #bookworm

SweetBooks I need that mug! 4y
MoonWitch94 @SweetBooks I bought it at Wegmans (if you have one near you) very recently. 4y
SweetBooks Thanks! 4y
42 likes3 comments
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Shamzi
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The mother of all book hauls 😂😂😂

This year will belong to Ken Follet!!

Follow.my.read I love EVERYTHING FOLLETT!!! 4y
Shamzi @Follow.my.read yes I enjoy the books too!!! 4y
18 likes2 comments
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MoonWitch94
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#ThursdaySurvey 1️⃣ Mostly physical books, but some ebooks as well. 2️⃣ Barnes & Noble, Indie bookstores I come across in my travels. My library in town isn‘t too great. 3️⃣Nope, not a fan. 4️⃣🚫 5️⃣ Tagged!

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MoonWitch94
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1️⃣ My ONLY bookish items are HP related. Used this for my tomato soup today while I‘m nursing my TMJ 2️⃣ Like I told @Eggs yesterday, I‘m not an audiobook girl. 🔇🚫 3️⃣See the tagged friends below! ☺️ #WondrousWednesday

Eggs Temporal mandibular joint?? Poor baby 4y
MoonWitch94 @Eggs YES! I have only ever struggled a few times in my adult years...but it‘s awful today. 😞 4y
Eggs Hence the warm liquids...sorry you‘re in pain 😞-hope it‘s better soon 4y
MoonWitch94 @Eggs thank you! I am doing much better today 💕 4y
31 likes4 comments
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MoonWitch94
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Thanks for the tag @NeedsMoreBooks 1.) My favorite genre to read is self-help; I love to watch Saturday Night Live each week; I don‘t have a twitter account 2.) Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman 3.) Not lucky enough 4.) Too cold...because you can always more layers on. #litsylearn

Alora Hello! 💙💙💙 4y
Alora Is the lie the self help books?! 4y
DaveGreen7777 Hmmm... I‘ll guess watching Saturday Night Live every week is the lie? 🤔 4y
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MoonWitch94 @Alora yes, that‘s the lie 😂 4y
MoonWitch94 @DaveGreen7777 Nope! That is true 🙂 4y
Alora Hahaha nice! 😂 Who is your favourite hockey team?! I‘m a die hard Bruins fan 💛🖤💛🖤 4y
MoonWitch94 @Alora I bleed Orange & Black 🖤🧡🖤🧡 for the Philadelphia Flyers 😉 4y
Josilas123 @MoonWitch94 @Alora 1) I didn‘t start reading out of love for books, I was literally forced. I have been single for the past 7 years. I am gay. 2) Harry Potter series. 3) Not yet. 4) Too cold. 4y
29 likes8 comments
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Buechersuechtling
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I think my main problem with this novel was that in this volume it seems that Follet had check boxes he ticked off. To me, it didn‘t feel like his protagonists neatly and authentically dovetailed into the world events – it was more like there were so many important sights that Follet had problems finding personnel he could send to be an authentic part of the world‘s history. It often felt like: “How convenient”.

Do you understand what I mean❓🤔

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Buechersuechtling
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Maybe Follet wanted to write a different kind of novel about this issue because almost everything about it has already been said and written. If so, is he in my eyes failed completely because he can only recreate the magic and the understanding for the big issues he arose so well in the first volume in this volume in very few places.

Having my high hopes disappointed leaves me kind of sad because I really believed Follet would do it again.

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Buechersuechtling
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Mehso-so

I have been looking forward to this so much because I have really been surprised by the first volume, “Fall of Titans”. I learned so much from this and felt that Follet explained the coherences so well, he really joined the dots for me. Compared to this, this second volume disappointed me deeply. Over a long period it‘s more a soap opera than a novel explaining WWII and fascism.

The last 4 to 5 hours redeemed me – but still. 😟

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Buechersuechtling
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Making good progress with this.
I am thankful that it‘s not as oppressive anymore as it started.

But it‘s so complicated. I thought this, too, as I had begun listening to “Fall of Titans” but it turned out that Follet explained the correlations well. Or that I understood them better … But in here all the parallel developments of the fascist regimes, the fights, the rebels, it makes me sometimes feel dizzy 😵 and stupid.

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Buechersuechtling
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As many of you know – and as everybody can see in my profile – I am German 🇩🇪. I‘m now scarcely an hour in that audiobook. And I already feel bad and bitter.

Even more if I think of and about the German AfD-party. Many think something like the Nazi dictatorship nowadays can‘t happen again. If I envision how it all developed in 1933 … It all went so unbelievably smoothly. 😢 I feel nauseated. 🤢

Texreader This one was so good but so so sad. I remember starting this one and just sinking into horror. 5y
Buechersuechtling @Texreader Yes, that‘s exactly how it feels. 😱 5y
JacqMac It sounds like a great yet horrible read. 5y
Buechersuechtling @JacqMac I will holler when I get to the “great”-section. At the moment I‘m still in where it‘s horrible. 5y
12 likes4 comments
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Buechersuechtling
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I am once more thankful for my significant other‘s fat internet connection this second part of Ken Follet‘s “Titans”-saga download properly on my device in less than 5 minutes‼️🙌🏼 My connection would have needed about five times as long, at least, plus constant monitoring.

I am very much looking forward to to this because I was so surprised and impressed by the first book.

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Auntynanny
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Pickpick

I enjoyed the second installment of the Century Trilogy. I've read a lot of books about World War II, but I still felt like I learned a bit more. It was nice to find out about the next generation of characters in this series. I look forward to reading the third book.

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Villo
L'inverno del mondo | Ken Follett
Pickpick

This second book was even more interesting than the first: the way things before, during and just after WWII were happening between GB, France, Spain, Germany, Russia and USA and interconnected into the 5 family stories is increasingly interesting. The reading is really capturing your attention with suspense and thrilling situations. Let‘s start the third of the series! #2019

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La_Cori
L'inverno del mondo | Ken Follett
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sigriff
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Time to enjoy a good doorstop of a book. Really enjoyed the first one in the trilogy and I have a week off coming up.

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Andrew65
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Tove_Reads
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74% done and loving it, even though I am fed up with the World Wars. Which stand alone Follett should I read after this trilogy? Also, @Andrew65 which Maeve will we read in December? Also Heartstone is on the list @EadieB 🙂 I am feeling so responsible planning my December reading list now!

EadieB This one I heard is good 5y
EadieB @Tove_Reads i like to read authors according to the order they wrote their books. Some of her characters appear in other books. Here‘s the order of her novels: Light a penny candle, Echoes, firefly summer, silver wedding, circle of friends, the cooper beach, the glass lake, evening class, tara road, scarlet feather, quentins, night of rain and stars, Whitethorn woods, heart and soul, minding frankie, a week in winter. Echoes would be next after PC 5y
EadieB @Tove_Reads @andrew65 But we can always leave the choice to Andrew as he has read a lot of them. 5y
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Tove_Reads @EadieB Can‘t get ahold of them all, so it helps me to know ahead what we‘ll read. Maybe the library can get at least some of them if I request them early on. 5y
Tove_Reads Thanks, but that is just way too much! @EadieB 5y
Andrew65 I‘m sure someone (might have been you @Tove_Reads ) asked me about reading A week in Winter in December as it seemed appropriate, so I though‘t we do Tara Road in November and A Week in Winter in December with start dates in both months of 19th of each month. I‘ve not read any Ken Follett standalones but have heard positive thoughts re this one. @EadieB (edited) 5y
Andrew65 Then we can start reading the rest in order after that. We are reading Tara Road next as again that was requested by people. @Tove_Reads @EadieB 5y
EadieB @andrew65 A week in winter sounds good to me for December. I do remember someone suggested this. 5y
Tove_Reads @eadieb @Andrew65 Cool! Yeah, it was me! I own Tara and my library has A Week on Overdrive, so I‘m set for the next two! 🙂 5y
Andrew65 @Tove_Reads Thought it was you, pleased my memory is still working, especially given the hours I have worked this week and the little sleep I have got this week as a result. Great news that you are able to get both. For your longer term plans we will read Echoes in January. This is possibly about the only novel of hers I haven‘t read but do own a very old copy. @EadieB 5y
Tove_Reads @andrew65 I‘ll start looking for Echoes today! I was thinking about going for a Follett challenge in 2019. Like the Binchy one. A book per month. We are soonish done with Nicci French and Shardlake. @EadieB 5y
Andrew65 @Tove_Reads I was wondering if you wanted to read the last three Nicci French books in before the end of the year? Have you got capacity to do Saturday in the second half of November? I‘d be up for Ken Follett. @eadieb 5y
Tove_Reads @andrew65 I do, yeah. Might have a problem with getting the last one though, but I‘ll check the library and place a hold. It‘s the only one they don‘t have on overdrive. I‘ve asked them to add it, but you‘ll never know. 5y
Tove_Reads @andrew65 Placed a hold. Should get it in December! 5y
Tove_Reads @andrew65 Requested Whiteout and Echoes. Can get both of them in Finnish and Swedish, but hopefully in January in English as well! 5y
EadieB @Tove_Reads @Andrew65 I‘m up for Follett too! 5y
Tove_Reads @EadieB 👍🏽 5y
Tove_Reads @EadieB @andrew65 So, Follett in chronological order sans the trilogies? Have no clue if I can get ahold of them all, but you‘d think we should have the books translated, so at least I should have that. 5y
EadieB @Tove_Reads Why do you like to read the English version. Do you think something is lost in the translation? Wouldn‘t it be easier to read in your Finnish language? Also, just let us know which ones you can get hold of. 5y
Tove_Reads @EadieB I‘ve lived in the US, England and Ireland. I know that not every cultural thing can be translated and many translators don‘t get all references. Especially when it comes to good writers I want to read in the original language. Some translators write better than certain authors. But, Binchy, Follett, Boyne... def in English! 5y
Tove_Reads @EadieB Clive Cussler in Swedish was one of the worst experiences ever! 5y
EadieB @Tove_Reads Ok That does make sense. 5y
EadieB @Tove_Reads I cannot even imagine Clive Cussler in any other language. That would definitely be a funny experience. 5y
Tove_Reads @eadieb The Finnish ones have been really good. Then I couldn‘t get one in English or Finnish. Had to read it in Swedish. It was soooo boring, slow, sad... 5y
EadieB @Tove_Reads That‘s great that you know all those languages. My grandfather knew 14 languages. My daughter got his gift. She is fluent in French and she had one year of German and went to visit her pen pal in Germany and people that she was a German. 5y
EadieB @Tove_Reads That‘s great that you know all those languages. My grandfather knew 14 languages. My daughter got his gift. She is fluent in French and she had one year of German and went to visit her pen pal in Germany and people thought she was German. 5y
Tove_Reads @EadieB I can read 14 as well! 5y
EadieB @Tove_Reads that‘s remarkable. My grandfather was from Croatia and he was a merchant marine. 5y
Tove_Reads @EadieB I think I‘ve read proper examination books in about 8 languages at my universities. 5y
EadieB @Tove_Reads When by grandfather came to Philadelphia in 1914 he helped immigrants with their citizenship papers. 5y
Tove_Reads @EadieB 👍🏽 5y
37 likes31 comments
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atenelli

I did not like the sequel as much as The Fall of Giants. However, it is still a pretty good read. Interested to see how he will end the story in the third and final part.

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atenelli

I really loved this novel and have already reread it once. I found it easy to read and enjoyable. I admit I might be a little biased because I have always enjoyed Ken Follett‘s historical fiction.

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Traci1
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I took my little monkey to the park this morning, and there's a Little Free Library next to it that's almost always empty. I try to take 5 or 6 books (especially kid books) every time we go by. This time, though, it was full of books, and I traded my 5 books for this one.

OrangeMooseReads This is a good series 👍🏼 6y
Traci1 @OrangeMooseReads it looked good. I love most of what I've read from Follett. Now I have to see if I can track down book one at the used bookshop. 6y
AngBreidenbach I‘ve loved how well Ken Follett builds his worlds. Amazing! Haven‘t read this one yet. 6y
89 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Mariana1
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❤️😍😍

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JuliaTheBookNerd
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#SeasonInTheTitle #MarchInBooks 🍀📖
#Winter ❄️ #Spring 🌸 #Summer ☀️ #Autumn 🍁

#BookNerd 📚💙

GripLitGrl 👏👏👏👏 6y
ephemeralwaltz Nice!! 6y
76 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Mariana1
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👌

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451Degrees
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Pickpick

I finished this one a couple days ago but it‘s left me thinking for sure! This book was the second in the Century Trilogy following WWII. I am intrigued by the authors structure of this series as it follows the same families from the first book through the decades. There was some very graphic and descriptive scenes that made me thankful to not be living during that time. Onto the last book!